Not long ago, I had the experience of working with a new intern. While we were having a coffee, I asked her about herself and how she saw herself helping us during her stay.
“Oh, I can do anything,” she gushed. “I’m just so happy to be here that I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
Obviously, she had a great attitude! But I was actually really disappointed with her answer – especially after I tried to prod her a little more and couldn’t get anything more specific out of her.
Why? Because telling everyone you’re a jack-of-all trades is a big personal branding mistake!
I actually learned this from my mother, a business-to-business sales expert. She taught me that the biggest mistake sellers make is to try to prove to a prospect that their company can solve ANY (semi-related) problem that prospect’s company might have.
Jack of all trades, master of none
The reason sellers do this is because they don’t want to lose any business. So they expand their target market from (e.g.) mid-sized utility companies in the Midwest to any business anywhere in the world that send out monthly bills.
If you’re looking for a job, you’re probably a lot like those sellers. It’s so important for you to get the job that you don’t want to disqualify yourself from any possibilities. It’s even worse if you’re running low on money and desperately need to win over the interviewer.
But doing that will actually hurt your cause.
The truth is, business prospects don’t want to work with a company that does everything. They want to work with companies who work in their exact area and are experts on the unique challenges that prospect’s company faces on a daily business.
The same goes for job seekers. Companies want employees with a great attitude, but it’s just as important to them that they get the people who are the absolute best for the position. They want to hear from people who are good at exactly the sort of job that they need to fill.
They want the best
When you try to ensure that you don’t miss any opportunities, you aren’t viewed as the confident, competent person who can provide exactly what the company needs. Instead, acting like a jack-of-all-trades ends up causing others to think (that if you’ve spent the time learning how to do everything) you haven’t had the time to become really good at what they actually need you to do.
To get other people to see you as the confident, competent person who can meet their needs, you actually need to be willing to close off some options – even if someone approaches you. This gives you a chance to tune your personal marketing materials especially for the job you really want, and it helps you become really good in that specific area.
Plus, when someone asks you what you can do, you actually are able to give them a concrete answer that will help them see how they can benefit from working with you - versus an interchangeable robot who does whatever it’s told.
Author:
Katie Konrath writes about creativity, innovation and “ideas so fresh… they should be slapped!” at www.getFreshMinds.com.
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@Katie: Very sound advice Katie — it reminds me of the famous Napolean Hill saying, that goes something like, “put all your eggs in one basket and then watch the basket very carefully.” Malcolm Gladwell also explores the idea of the 10,000 hour rule in his newest book Outliers — it takes about 10,000 hours focused on one discipline to become a true expert in that discipline. Most people give up way or lose their passion way before that.
The big takeaway, find the niche you are great at or want to be great at and communicate that one thing with your personal brand!
Katie: Your piece is profound – and Chad, the 10,000 hours concept is right on! Spending time to master and excel at something useful is the kind of homework we’re not assigned in school – but it is all that matters at work, for most of us. Unless you are a rainmaker – bringing in business by promoting other people’s talent in your company – take the time to get good, better and best at web design, copy writing, backend technology, whatever. I would pay double for someone I can count on to do their job expertly versus someone with a great can-do attitude, who really can’t.
[...] the original: Stop Saying You “Can Do Anything!” | Personal Branding Blog – Dan … Related Posts:Personal Branding Blog: Lisa Orrell | Personal Branding Blog – Dan …Twitter [...]
[...] 3. Are you a recent graduate, a new hire or an intern? Don’t be a jack of all trades: Stop saying you can do anything! [...]
A very excellent thought. I’ve fallen into this trap myself on many occasions and one major drawback is that you wind up tying up your time in tasks about which you aren’t passionate, which leads to frustration.
Great post – I’m always saying this. Its such a short-sighted/short-term strategy that generally helps out with liquidity now, but does nothing for & impedes long-term sucess. I’m printing out this article & pinning up to remind me to stop saying yes.
Malcolm Galdwell in his book “Outliers” concludes that 10,000 hours is the magic number for the time you should spend doing something in order to be a pro or expert. Examples of experts who hit the 10,000 hour mark: Bill Joy, programming; Beatles. playing live; Bill Gates, programming; and pro atheletes, various sports.
The 10,000 hour level is certainly rare excellence. Still, think about how much time–in hours of practice–you have spent doing the things you want to say you can do well/sell.
I’m stuck with reading, watching TV and napping. Any buyers?
[...] That “something” is usually what companies are hiring. Katie Konrath said this in her post, “Stop Saying You Can Do Anything!” [...]
The idea is not to be able to do everything, but to have a “T-shape” outlook. What I mean by this is in a T there is a long line going down the middle, this is your main attribute or skill, and then there are the two branches on the top of “T-shape”, these are the secondary skills that you have experience and some knowledge of but are not your main skills.
Sam, I wish I were a “T” or even a little “t” — it seems I am more like a Σ or a ¥ though.
Katie, this is a great reminder for people like myself starting a new business. It is important to be honest with your clients and yourself about your skill set.